'Cats swing away; take two in Classic

Tuesday

Apr 26, 2011 at 12:01 AMApr 26, 2011 at 10:35 AM

It wasn't the sweep the Wildcats wanted this weekend at the Kevin Calia Classic, but they'll take it. Oak Ridge (11-13) took two of three and was one inning away from a .500 record in their 11-10 loss to Cookeville.

Robert Holder | robert.holder@oakridger.com

It wasn't the sweep the Wildcats wanted this weekend at the Kevin Calia Classic, but they'll take it.

Oak Ridge (11-13) took two of three and was one inning away from a .500 record in their 11-10 loss to Cookeville.

"Little by little," Oak Ridge coach Tom Froning said. "We are so close to being a very good baseball team. A last inning loss is the difference between being 11-13 and 12-12. We just feel like we are so close, like we are getting ready to steamroll and snowball."

The Wildcats rallied to get their first win on Friday afternoon. After the rain subsided, they beat Buckeye (Ohio) 9-7.

The ’Cats came out swinging on Saturday, pounding out 10 hits and 11 runs against five Cookeville pitchers.

Kevin Steen belted a two-run home run over the left-centerfield fence to take the lead. The two teams traded leads until Cookeville got an RBI single to win the game in the time shorten, six-inning game.

As for the nightcap, Oak Ridge put together six runs in the first three innings to win 6-3.

"I really love the way this team is hitting," Froning said.

On Saturday, the team combined 17 hits in the two games. Brady Hull did a good bit of the damage for the Wildcats as he scored twice, had two RBIs and walked three times.

"Brady Hull, deep in the lineup, has really given us a spark," Froning said of his No. 8 hitter. "He's really been hitting well, deep in the lineup. That's something we've been struggling with for the last two years. When we get past the four or five (hitter), trying to put a little punch down there."

Jordan Lane also had a good day going a combined 3 for 8 with three RBIs. He also crossed the plate four times.

Robert Holder can be contacted at (865) 220-5508.

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